Good morning to the honorable judges, loyal time keeper and teachers.

I’m
Pavatharani and it is an honor and privilege to speak before you today. I would like
to present to you about the “Ugly truth that shakes the entire world; CHILD
LABOUR!”

Today’s children are tomorrow’s leaders. The future of our world depends on the way
our young generation is protected and nurtured. Formal education plays a key role in
it.Child labor is a social evil which exists in many countries even now, where children
are forced to work instead of going to schools. Thus formal education is denied to
them. Even though the percentage of child labour decreased from twenty five
percent in the sixties to ten percent in this decade, according to the United Nation
statistics, an estimated 215 million children aged between five and seventeen
worldwide, are currently involved in child labor. This staggering figure shows the
seriousness of this problem. The issue is considered to be worst in Africa.  The
reality is that child labour also exists in its worst forms such as slavery and
trafficking, debt bondage and other forms of forced labour, forced recruitment of
children for use in armed conflict, prostitution, and illicit activities.

Ladies and gentleman,

There are primarily three reasons for child labour. They are poverty and economic
exploitation, lack of schools and lack of awareness. Across the world, poverty plays
a predominant role for the increase of child labour. The decision to drop schools are
often led by the inability of the parents to support their child’s education. It is proven
that In Filipinos , a little boy with a jar of water will suddenly wash the windshield of
your car while you’re parked and then ask you for money. He’s around 6 years old
yet you can see the guile in his eyes. This is a child who has lost his innocence. He
will show anger if you don’t pay him for washing your windshield, even if you didn’t
ask for it. All he is concerned about is meeting his quota for the day. If he doesn’t
collect the amount of money expected from him, he will be beaten. If he doesn’t earn
enough, the child will steal what he can to give something to the syndicate at the end
of the day.

If a child under the custody of the syndicate continues to miss his quota, he will
intentionally be given a disability. Who can resist giving money to a begging disabled
child? Maybe then, he will meet his quota and earn his keep. Only an effort of global
scale, involving countries and governments across the world, along with citizen’s
involvement can fight this problem.

The United Nation and The International labour Organisation has taken several
global initiatives to eradicate child labor. These efforts have resulted in thousands of
children being withdrawn from work and rehabilitated or prevented from entering the
workforce. Another noted person who is in the forefront of this battle is the 2014
Nobel Peace Prize winner Mr. Kailash Satyarthi  who dedicated himself to protecting
child rights for over three decades now, freeing 80,000 child labourers ,giving them
new hope in life.

Every Year June 12 is celebrated by the United Nations as ‘Word Day against
Child labour.  It the duty of every citizen around the world to make sure that his or
her child goes to school. My dear audience, as children, we can also play our part in
this initiative. If any of our friends are struggling with his or her school fee or any
educational need, let us offer a helping hand. We can conduct awareness programs
among the poor about the importance of education and request our parents to
support poor students. Let’s dream about a world where all children happily go to
school and get empowered.

Thank you .